Isolation gowns are bought by protection level and by case pack, and the two are easy to confuse: a level 2 gown in a 50-pack case and a level 1 gown in the same case size look identical on a purchase order and behave differently at the bedside. In New Brunswick, where care homes and clinics often order for several sites at once, the practical decision is which level each area needs, how many sizes you carry, and how much case stock your store room can hold. This page covers the levels, the case structure, sizing, par levels and the freight questions worth settling before the first order.
A standard starting point for most resident-care areas is the CliniEco Medical Isolation Gown — SMMS 40 gsm, Level 2 protection, 50-pack, which suits routine resident contact where splashes and sprays are possible.
| Level | Barrier performance | Typical setting | Case pack to ask about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Minimal liquid contact | Basic resident care, dietary, cleaning tasks | Usually 50 per pack, several packs per case |
| Level 2 | Low fluid contact, small splashes | Personal care, wound rounds, routine clinic work | Usually 50 per pack |
| Level 3 | Moderate fluid contact | Areas with arterial lines or heavier splash risk | Confirm pack and case counts separately |
| Level 4 | Highest liquid barrier | Specialised procedures only | Often smaller packs, shorter shelf life |
Which isolation gown level does a New Brunswick care home need?
Match the level to the task rather than to the building. Resident personal care and routine contact generally sit at level 1 or level 2; areas where staff are close to splash or spray, such as wound care and some clinical procedures, belong at level 2 or above. The expensive error runs in both directions: buying level 3 for every cart costs more per resident day than the task justifies, and buying level 1 for a task with splash risk trades a small saving for a barrier that was never designed for it. Write the level on the cart label so that a substitute staff member does not have to guess.
What case sizes and gown formats are available?
Ask for four numbers before you order: gowns per pack, packs per case, gowns per case, and the folded dimensions of a single gown. The last number decides how much shelf a case occupies, and in a care home store room that is often the real constraint. Gowns are supplied in three formats — over-the-head with ties, waist-tie with a neck loop, and full-back — and the format affects donning time more than the level does. If staff are gowning between many short visits, the waist-tie format usually wins on time even though it costs more per gown.
| Format | Donning time | Suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-head with back ties | Slower | Longer procedures, isolation rooms | Ties that reach behind may need a second person |
| Waist-tie with neck loop | Faster | Routine resident care rounds | Confirm the loop does not pull at the neck |
| Full-back coverage | Moderate | Areas with back exposure risk | More material per gown, bulkier case |
How many sizes should be stocked, and what par level?
Carry two sizes at minimum and three if your staff mix is wide, because a gown that does not close at the back is not being used as a barrier. For the par level, count gowns used per resident contact day. Worked example: a 60-bed home with 40 staff-resident contact episodes a day across two shifts, at one gown per episode, uses 80 gowns a day and 560 a week. At 50 gowns per pack, that is just over 11 packs a week — so a case of 10 packs covers under a week, and two weeks of cover is more than 22 packs. Set the par level at two weeks plus one pack per cart, and put the reorder trigger at four packs.
What should you confirm about delivery into New Brunswick?
Confirm the ship-from location, the number of cartons per case, and whether freight is priced per order or per case — a light but bulky gown case can cost more to move than to buy if the freight basis is wrong. For multi-site orders, ask for one invoice with several packing slips and confirm how a partial shipment is handled, because a gown shortfall in one home should not delay the rest of the order. If the home also orders level 1 gowns for dietary and cleaning tasks, the CliniEco Disposable Isolation Gowns — Level 1, non-woven, fluid resistant keeps the two streams visually distinct if you label the carts by level.
How should gowns be stored and rotated?
Keep cases closed and off the floor, and open one pack at a time at the cart rather than leaving a case open in a corridor. Gowns stored in a humid room or against an outside wall can take up moisture and tear at the sleeve seam on donning, which shows up as a "bad batch" when it is really a storage problem. Rotate stock so the oldest pack is at the cart, and keep the level marking visible on the cart so a substitute does not reach for the wrong gown.
Print the monthly supply checklist to track gown use by unit, or work out volumes with the supply planner. For case pricing and account setup, wholesale and multi-site ordering covers care homes and multi-site groups, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers. The isolation gown collection shows the levels and formats currently stocked. Clinical teams with questions about gown use alongside instrument handling can ask a sterilization compliance specialist. Reselling? become a distributor.
Related reading
- Isolation gown bulk ordering in Quebec: sizes, case quantities and par levels
- Where to buy disposable isolation gowns in Nova Scotia: levels and case counts
- Long-term care homes: auditing glove and gown usage in Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a level 2 gown enough for routine resident care?
For routine personal care with low fluid contact, level 2 is usually appropriate. Tasks with heavier splash or spray belong at level 3 or above, and the level should be written on the cart so substitutes use the right gown.
How many gowns come in a case?
It varies by manufacturer and format. Ask for gowns per pack, packs per case, gowns per case and the folded gown dimensions, because the case footprint often decides how much you can store as much as the unit count does.
Can level 1 and level 2 gowns be used in the same building?
Yes, and matching the level to the task is the point. Label the carts by level so dietary and cleaning tasks do not consume level 3 stock, and so clinical areas never receive level 1 by mistake.
How should isolation gown cases be stored?
Closed, off the floor, away from damp and outside walls, with one pack open at the cart at a time. Moisture makes gowns tear at the sleeve seam, which is often mistaken for a manufacturing fault.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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